UnitSeven: TheSampler
Theauthorfindsoutthatgoodintentionsalonearenotenoughwhenhisattempttobekindtoanoldmanleavesthembothfeelingworsethanbefore.

TheSampler

Inacertainstorewheretheysellpuddings, anumberofthesedeliciousthingsarelaidoutinarowduringtheChristmasseason. Hereyoumayselecttheonewhichismosttoyourtaste, andyouareevenallowedtosamplethembeforecomingtoadecision.
Ihaveoftenwonderedwhethersomepeople, whohadnointentionofmakingapurchase, wouldtakeadvantageofthisprivilege. OnedayIaskedthisquestionoftheshopgirl, andIlearneditwasindeedthecase.
"Nowthere'soneoldgentleman, forinstance," shetoldme, "hecomesherealmosteveryweekandsampleseachoneofthepuddings, thoughheneverbuysanything, andIsuspectheneverwill. Irememberhimfromlastyearbeforethat, too. Well, lethimcomeifhewantsit, andwelcometoit. Andwhat'smore, Ihopetherearealotmorestoreswherehecangoandgethisshare. Helooksasifheneededitallright, andIsupposetheycanaffordit."
Shewasstillspeakingwhenanelderlygentlemanlimpeduptothecounterandbeganlookingcloselyattherowofpuddingswithgreatinterest.
"Why, that'stheverygentlemanI'vebeentellingyouabout," whisperedtheshopgirl." Justwatchhimnow." Andthenturningtohim:" Wouldyouliketosamplethem, sir? Here'sspoonforyoutouse."
Theelderlygentleman, whowaspoorlybutneatlydressed, acceptedthespoonandbeganeagerlytosampleoneafteranotherofthepuddings, onlybrakingoffoccasionallytowipehisredeyeswithalargetornhandkerchief.
"Thisisquitegood."
"Thisisnotbadeither, butalittletooheavy."
Allthetimeitwasquiteevidentthathesincerelybelievedthathemighteventuallybuyoneofthesepuddings, andIampositivethathedidnotforamomentfeelthathewasinanywaycheatingthestore. Pooroldchap! Probablyhehadcomedownintheworldandthissamplingwasallthatwaslefthimfromthetimewhenhecouldaffordtocomeandselecthisfavoritepudding.
Amidstthecrowdofhappy, prosperouslookingChristmasshoppers, thelittleblackfigureoftheoldmanseemedpitifulandoutofplace, andinaburstofbenevolence, Iwentuptohimandsaid:
"Pardonme, sir, willyoudomeafavor? Letmepurchaseyouoneofthesepuddings. Itwouldgivemesuchpleasure."
Hejumpedbackasifhehadbeenstung, andthebloodrushedintohiswrinkledface.
"Excuseme," hesaid, withmoredignitythanIwouldhavethoughtpossibleconsideringhisappearance, "IdonotbelieveIhavethepleasureofknowingyou. Undoubtedlyyouhavemistakenmeforsomeoneelse." Andwithaquickdecisionheturnedtotheshopgirlandsaidinaloudvoice, "Kindlypackmeupthisonehere. Iwilltakeitwithme." Hepointedatoneofthelargestandmostexpensiveofthepuddings.
Thegirltookdownthepuddingfromitsstandandstartedtomakeaparcelofit, whilehepulledoutawornlittleblackpocketbookandbegancountingoutshillingsandpenniesontothecounter. Tosavehis"honour" hehadbeenforcedintoapurchasewhichhecouldnotpossiblyafford. HowIlongedforthepowertounsaymytactlesswords! Itwastoolatethough, andIfeltthatthekindestthingIcoulddonowwouldbewalkaway.
"Youpayatthedesk," theshopgirlwastellinghim, buthedidnotseemtounderstandandkepttryingtoputthecoinsintoherhand. AndthatwasthelastIsawortheoldman. Nowhecannevergotheretosamplepuddinganymore.

NEWWORDS

author
n. thewriterofabook, article, play, poem, etc. 作者
intention
n. purpose　目的；意图
sampler
n. onewhofindsoutthequalityofsth. bytestingapartofit　品尝家
pudding
n. 布丁（西餐中一种松软的甜点心）
delicious
a. tastingorsmellingpleasant　美味的，可口的
select
vt. choosefromagroup　挑选
selection
n.
sample
vt. testapartof　品尝
purchase
n. buying
vt. buy
advantage
n. sth. usefulorhelpful　利益，好处；优点
privilege
n. specialrightgiventoaperson　特权
instance
n. example, case　例子，实例
suspect
vt. feeldoubtabout; guessorsuppose　怀疑；猜测
suspicion
n.
afford
vt. havethemoneyfor　担负得起
elderly
a. nearoldage　上了年纪
limp
n. walkwithanunevenstep　跛行
counter
n. 柜台
spoon
n. 调羹
eagerly
ad. withstronginterestorimpatientdesire　热切地，急切地
occasionally
ad. nowandthen; attimes　偶尔；间或
occasional
a.
heavy
a. (offood, etc.) toorichtodigesteasily　（食物等）太油腻而不易消化
evident
a. plainandclear(totheeyeormind)　明显的，明白的
sincerely
ad. honestly　诚恳地
eventually
ad. intheend　终于，最终
positive
a. sure, certain　有把握的，确信的
cheat
vt. deceive　欺骗
chap
n. man; boy; fellow　男人；小伙子；家伙
amidst
prep. inthemiddleof; among　在...中间
crowd　　　　　　　　
n. 人群
prosperous
a. rich; successful　富裕的；成功的；昌盛的
prosperity
n.
figure
n. 外形，伦廓；体形
pitiful
a. makingonefeelpity可怜的
benevolence
n. thedesiretodogood仁慈
sting
vt. prickorhurt刺，螫
wrinkle
v. (causeto) formintolines（使）起皱纹
dignity
n. calmandseriousmannerorstyle尊严
appearance
n. thatwhichcanbeseen; look外表
pack
vt. put(things) intoboxes, cases, etc. 把（东西）打包（或装箱）
stand
n. （货）架；（货摊）
worn
a. damagedbyuseorwear破烂的，损坏的
pocketbook
a. awalletformoneyandpersonalpapers皮夹
shilling
n. 先令
long
vi. wishearnestly渴望
unsay
vt. takeback(sth. thathasbeensaid) 收回（说过的话）
tactless
a. 不策略的
coin
n. metalmoney硬币

PHEASES& EXPRESSIONS

layout
spreadout陈列
inarow
sidebysideinaneatline成一长行
toone'staste
inawaythatonelikes合...口味，中...的意
takeadvantageof
use(sth.) forone'sownbenefit利用
forinstance
forexample
andwhat'smore
also, andmoreimportantly而且，更重要的是
allright
certainly; beyonddoubt确实，无疑地
breakoff
pause中止，中断
comedown(intheworld)
becomepoor; losesocialposition落泊，潦倒；失势
outofplace
improper(forone'ssurroundings) 不适当的；不相称的
dosb. afavo(u)r
dosth. kindtosb. 给某人以恩惠；帮某人忙
mistake...for
thinkwronglythat(sth. orsb.) is(sth. orsb. else) 把...错认为
pullout
takeout抽出，取出
countout
count(things) onebyone逐一数出
longfor
wishverymuchfor渴望